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Prayer walk for immigrants is planned

A coalition of Oklahoma City Christian churches will host a prayer walk in solidarity with immigrants and refugees on Saturday, March 4.

The pilgrimage is called "El Camino del Inmigrante," which means "The Way of the Immigrant" in Spanish. There will be guided times of prayer and opportunities to learn about the plight of immigrants and refugees in Oklahoma City.

The walk will begin at 8 a.m. at Sante Fe South Elementary School, 5325 S Pennsylvania and end at Frontline Church, 1104 N Robinson. Participants will eat a free lunch together at the end of the walk.

"The Bible tells Christians to 'weep with those who weep' and 'bear one another's burdens.' Right now there are many immigrants and refugees in our community who are carrying heavy burdens," said the Rev. John-Mark Hart, senior pastor of Christ Community Church and one of the founders of the Christian church coalition called El Camino or The Way.

"El Camino del Inmigrante is a way to express love for these neighbors, learn about their plight, walk with them and pray for God to help those who are hurting."

The Rev. Chauncey Shillow, associate pastor of Christ Community Church, said it's common for the issue of immigration to be perceived essentially as a policy issue. However, he said immigration is a human issue before it is a policy issue.

Sponsors include: Christ Community Church, Christian Community Development Association, City Presbyterian Church, Evangelical Immigration Table, Faithworks of the Inner City, Frontline Church, St. James Episcopal Church, The Spero Project, The Well Church and Western Oaks Church of the Nazarene.

Carla Hinton, an Oklahoma City native, joined The Oklahoman in 1986 as a National Society of Newspaper Editors minority intern. She began reporting full-time for The Oklahoman two years later and has served as a beat writer covering a wide...
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